A friendship with All Blacks rugby union coach Steve Hansen has given trainer Liam Birchley a chance at more winter carnival stakes wins with kiwi filly Elusive Catch.

The filly won three of her 10 starts in New Zealand for Invercargill trainer Sabin Kirkland but was transferred to Birchley late last month with the Queensland Oaks as a possible aim.

Elusive Catch will have her first Australian start in the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) on Saturday where she will be ridden by Paul Hammersley.

Birchley said while Elusive Catch had been sent to Brisbane as a possible Oaks filly her performance in Saturday's race would tell if she pressed on to the Group One race.

"I have known Steve for years and I have had a few horses for him over the years. I generally stay with him in Christchurch when I go over for the South Island sales," Birchley said.

He said Elusive Catch was a nice type of filly but Saturday's race contained some good three-year-olds.

"She is pretty easy to handle and likes to please you. Saturday will be her first try past 1400 metres so it will be a real test," Birchley said.

Hansen owns Elusive Catch in partnership with Kirkland and farmer Grant McKenzie and they also race the smart Dezzies Dream.

Elusive Catch won her last start in a rating 65 handicap over 1400m at Riccarton on April 18.

Her best win in New Zealand was in the Group Three Champagne Stakes at Riccarton as a two-year-old.

"It would obviously be terrific to win a stakes race for Steve but you never get too far ahead of yourself in this game," Birchley said.